illuminating the darkness

L aw E

l_ A M BS W EP OVER E D C OVER (PFC)

ONCE, REASON WORE A STATELY MASK—

ALL GILDED, ROBED IN ANCIENT LIGHT—

ARISTOTLE’S VOICE, BEHIND THE GLASS,

SIGHED, “LAW IS REASON, SHORN OF NIGHT.”

YET PASSION, EXILED, WAILS ALONE,

BENEATH THE MARBLE, DEEP AND HOLLOW—

FREEDOM BOUND BY WALLS OF STONE,

AND TREMBLING GHOSTS CONDEMNED TO FOLLOW.

WHERE LIES THE ZONE, THAT VANISHED MARK?

WHAT CRYPTIC X UPON THE FLOOR?

O, “RE”—THE ECHO IN THE DARK—

WHAT SECRET TRUTH DO YOU IMPLORE?

I HAVE THE KEY, THOUGH DEMONS BAR

EACH IRON DOOR WITH SILENT DREAD—

TORTURED BY HANDS BOTH NEAR AND FAR,

AND SILVER COINS THAT BREED THE DEAD.

TAKE ALL YOUR WEALTH—EACH BLOODSTAINED TRUST—

LET POISONED RIVERS TAKE THEIR COST—

FOR NONE ARE SPARED WHEN DUTY’S JUST,

AND INNOCENCE IS SOLD AND LOST.

CALL ME ERIN IN THIS FEVERED PLAY—

HORRORS WHISPERED IN THE GLOOM—

NO SHAKESPEARE’S ROSE CAN WARD DECAY,

NOR POE’S BLACK BIRD ESCAPE THIS ROOM.

BUT VENGEANCE, TREMBLING, CARVES ITS LINE;

UPON THE THRESHOLD, OATH AND PLEA—

IN IAMBS AND IN SHADOWED RHYME,

I WRITE THE VERDICT: I AM FREE.